Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer

Pursued by ideas that had to be written since I was a teen, I’ve started young adult novels, science fiction novels, a mystery or two and even taken a leap into the children’s book genre. The generic reject letters from the “old guard” publishers—who never even read my cover letter—seemed to come back to me almost before I sent the queries. Then I discovered that the self-publishingindustry was beginning to re-invent itself. Could I adjust my old paradigms and consider options beyond the gates of publishing “houses?”

Because the very nature of being a writer takes place in what I fondly label solitary confinement—poised behind a desk with pen and paper in hand or wrists resting on the computer keyboard—most writers work alone. This self-imposed cocoon is great for the flow of creativity, but harmful when we’re ready to face the new hurdle of how to make this novel (poetry book, cookbook, short story anthology, etc.) available to the Readers. That is when my librarian’s words became golden advice: “Why don’t you try the writer’s workshop we’re hosting?”

Magic happened! Since 1976 I’ve been nestled in a group of very active writers—a producing writers workshop—where everyone became “published” in one form or another. We helped each other find our niché in such publishing arenas as newspaper columns, poetry chapbooks, cookbooks and magazines. We grew in our writing skills and nurtured each other along through gentle critique.

Then I expanded my horizons by attending Writers Conferences, selecting information workshops specific to my genre and rubbing elbows with publishingwriters, editors, literary agents, creative writing consultants and marketing experts. This venue is great for building up a writers’ knowledge base of the publishing world and finding encouragement. Can a publisher—from a publishing house—be found there? Rarely.

So it is that we come back to the question of “How can my writings reach all those Readers?” I could still see my book-child smothered under piles of other manuscripts only to find breathing room a year (or two) after I submitted it!

The GOOD NEWS is—the World of Publishing has changed! Writers now have a great option to self-publish! The old stigmas associated with self-publishing have all but disappeared being replaced by exciting new ways to print, distribute and market—and catch the eye of film producers. And possibly best of all, writers can now retain ALL their rights and control of their own creations. Tomorrow is here today in the self-publishing business.

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.